Visiting the US Virgin Islands with a Pet?

Domestic Imports

Direct flights from the US mainland and Puerto Rico are considered domestic travel. The domestic travel requirements for dog and cats are listed below.

Health Certificate (CVI) requirements:

• Health exam and certificate must be performed by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of arrival
  in the USVI.
• APHIS 7001 forms, official state CVIs, or eCVIs from a company approved by NASAHO are accepted.
• Specific corporation or business health certificates will not be accepted.
• The issuing veterinarian’s accreditation number (either Category I or Category II) needs to be indicated on the health certificate.
• Rabies vaccination status indicated as current.
  • • Date of vaccination
    • Product used
      • We accept the 3-year rabies vaccination if the vaccine product label indicates such.
    • Lot number of the product used

The health certificate then needs to be emailed to our office at veterinaryservices@doa.vi.gov at least 1
business day prior to arrival. No permit number is necessary as this is considered interstate travel.
We highly recommend dogs be current on Leptospirosis vaccines, as well as dogs and cats taking
flea/tick/heartworm preventative.

Rabies Vaccination Requirements:

– All dogs and cats must be currently vaccinated for rabies, or have an adequate rabies antibody titer on
a FAVN test within 12 months of travel to the USVI.
– Animals too young to be rabies vaccinated will not be allowed entry into the USVI until they are
vaccinated.
– If a dog or cat is being vaccinated for the first time, 10 days must pass from the date of vaccination
until their arrival in the USVI. If a dog or cat is being booster vaccinated for rabies, no time is required
prior to travel to the USVI.
– No animal may travel from an area currently under quarantine for rabies.
– Any dog or cat brought to the USVI that has not been vaccinated for rabies, is not current on
rabies vaccination, or does not have an adequate FAVN rabies titer test result within the past
12 months will be confiscated upon discovery and quarantined for a minimum of 10 days at the
owner’s expense. Please note that no liability will be incurred by the USVI government or our
participating private quarantine facilities.

Airlines may have their own requirements for pet transport. Please check with your airline or other vessel of transportation before initiating travel to or from the US Virgin Islands with a pet.

International Imports

All animals entering the US Virgin Islands, that originate  outside of the United States or Puerto Rico, are subject to U.S. Virgin Islands regulations as well as US federal (CDC) import regulations and inspection.

For our USVI regulations:

• Contact Dr. David Wenger:
• See rabies requirements above ⇑

For Federal CDC  Regularions click here: Pet Travel | How To Bring Your Pet to the United States.

Boat and Exotic Imports

CRUISE SHIP OR PRIVATE BOAT TRAVEL WITH A DOG OR CAT

Contact Dr. David Wenger with your itinerary of travel prior to arrival in the US Virgin Islands.

EXOTIC PETS

Defined as any pet species other than domestic dogs or cats.

Contact Dr. David Wenger (see below) for all exotic species importations at least 6 weeks prior to your intended importation date.

Leaving the USVI with Pets

LEAVING THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS

There are no specific US Virgin Islands requirements for animals leaving the US Virgin Islands, with the exception of
protected wildlife species. The regulations for pet travel FROM the US Virgin Islands are dependent upon the
requirements of the state/territory/nation of your destination. Contact the associated Department of
Agriculture in the destination state/territory/nation directly for those requirements.
– US state/territory destination information can start here: Take a Pet from One U.S. State or Territory
to Another
– International destination information can start here: Traveling with Pets and Service Animals | CDC
Yellow BookTM
Health certificates are only valid for a maximum of 30 days, regardless of the entity requiring it. We
recommend checking with your state/territory of return and your airline because, depending on the
length of your stay and their requirements, you may need to arrange a visit with a local (USVI)
veterinarian to issue documents required for your return trip.

For additional information, contact:
David Wenger, DVM
Director of Veterinary Services
Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture
david.wenger@doa.vi.gov

340-642-7320 during business hours of M-F, 8am-5pm AST (no message service available)